STEVENSON, Wash. -- A father and son who discovered a missing hiker's body at the base of an 800-foot cliff Saturday said they searched the trails of the Columbia River Gorge in hopes of giving the hiker's family closure.

Rescue crews recovered the body of 24-year-old Kate Huether on Sunday after she was missing for nine days.

James Martin and his son, Tucker, said they spotted Huether's parka while they were searching in the area. They later found her body at the base of a rocky cliff.

Martin said he told friends at work last week that he planned to search the trails near the Bonneville Dam to find Huether.

"It's the abyss. It's the worst thing a parent can go through," said Martin, who hugged Huether's father after he received the news. "So that's why I was up there, (just because) there was a possibility he could get closure."

The Martins made their discovery three days after authorities suspended their search for Huether.

Rescuers navigated tough terrain to recover Huether's body from the isolated and steep cliff in the Columbia River Gorge. Skamania County deputies said it's likely Huether died instantly from the fall and did not suffer.

"(I'm) really happy that we found her, but a little bit shook up," Tucker Martin said.

Huether's friends said they would try to remain positive in the wake of the Portland State University student's death.

"You kind of almost have to reassess. Life is pretty fragile and fleeting sometimes," said David Danowski, Huether's friend. "We're really going to miss her but I'm going to try and take something from it and learn something from it."

Huether set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail near the Bonneville Dam on March 4. She sent a text message to a friend and said she would be home by 8 p.m. that night.

She was later reported missing to Portland police when she didn't return as planned.

Last week, rescue crews combed a 12-mile perimeter around the trail for several days but didn't find any clues of Huether besides a credit card receipt near Table Mountain.

"We've been doing this since last Saturday," Danowski said. "We're happy to have some time. We've found her and at least know part of the story."

Hiker's Body Recovered From Base Of Cliff